20 reasons families need to visit Melbourne this Christmas

Pip Lincolne

If you’re under the impression that Melbourne is more the spot for a romantic getaway, footy pilgrimage or hipster hangout, then you’d be wrong! There’s something for everyone in my city, especially families and especially at Christmas time!

Here are 20 reasons why you and your gang should head into the city quick-smart – and it isn’t just great for our interstate mates. If you’re from elsewhere in Melbourne or from other parts of Victoria, here are a few reminders of why you should take another look at what the centre of Melbourne has to offer.

1. Twinkly lights and Santa!

Melbourne’s so pretty at night time, so take your kids pretty light spotting before bed (and maybe throw in a hot chocolate and a waffle from a city vendor?). On Friday 28th November (at 7.30pm) head to the City Square (seasonally renamed Christmas Square) to see the big Christmas tree lights get flicked on for the very first time! You can also meet Santa every day between 10am and midday, and 1pm and 3pm. On Friday nights, Santa stays up late, ready to meet his fans between 4pm and 7pm. There’ll be Christmas buskers to keep everyone entertained as well as a awesome light show, including a new Christmas projection on Melbourne Town Hall.

Santa’s Post Box will be open in the Christmas Square from 7th November to 19th December, just in case the kidlets need to make contact with the big man himself! Include a self-addressed envelope and stamp and get a reply from Santa.

2. Doughnuts and gingerbread!

The Queen Victoria Market is famous for all kinds of things (The Polish Deli, Market Lane Coffee, amazing Bratwurst, delicious cheeses, amazing borek pastries, The Night Market, high quality fruit and vegetables for starters!) but it’s the doughnuts that kids line up down the block for. They’re golden, sugary and jam-filled. A must-do if you’re visiting, especially as there’s even more on offer during the festive season, including the New Craft Market on 7th December and the Thursday Christmas Market, which will be open between 9am and 3pm on 4th, 11th and 18th December.

Melbourne Town Hall morphs into a super-delicious gingerbread village from the 1st to the 24th December. Be sure to run, run, run as fast as you can to catch that!

3. Christmas shopping!

Melbourne has the best shopping in all of Australia, in my humble opinion. Arcades, lane ways and a bounty of new shopping complexes are bursting at the seams ready to help you bestow the perfect gifts on your loved ones. QV, Melbourne Central, Curtin House, the Nicholas Building, The Strand and The Emporium are just a few worth exploring!

4. Really impressive fireworks!

What better excuse to extend your Christmas time stay than Melbourne’s famous New Year’s Eve fireworks?! There’s an early set at 9pm for the littlies (or stay up till midnight for the whole shebang).

5. A very long river!

Melbourne’s Yarra River stretches from the Yarra Ranges through Melbourne’s suburbs and city centre to Port Phillip Bay.

Smooch under the giant mistletoe on the Southbank Pedestrian Bridge while the kids pretend to gag, then take a little boat trip from Southbank to see it from the very best seats (or head to Docklands for more lovely vistas).

7. Dumplings!

Dumplings are cheap, delicious and plentiful, just perfect for hungry families. They might even be a little bit festive, right? Little Bourke St (and the shops and lane ways that spill from it) is the best place to start your dumpling tour. If you fancy more than a plate of dumplings, keep your eyes peeled for great Yum Cha options in the same area.

8. Beautiful gardens!

What could be better than an inner-city wander through these vast and pretty gardens to take a breather at this busy time of year? Spot a swan, snack on a chicken sandwich, turn somersaults on the lawn, slam a Paddle Pop and soak up this city oasis. If you’re up for a flick, Moonlight Cinema at the gardens is spectacular and starts up in December! Bring a picnic and a blanket and take in a family movie with the cityscape as your backdrop.

9. All of the art, all of the time!

The National Gallery of Victoria is chock full of arty treasures and runs great school holiday and weekend activities for kids too. The water wall is a super fave, but the gift shop is also a gem, filled with interesting stuff for interesting people – perfect for a little unique Christmas gifting. Just a stone’s throw from the city centre (with plenty of snack options on the way and within).

10. And all of the street art all of the time!

Explore the laneways with your kids and spark conversations on colour, shapes, letters and more. Here’s a map to help you spot the best pieces (or take a Street Art Tour).

11. Also… trams!

Our ace tram network can whizz you to the places you want to go in style and it’s a relaxing way to see the city too. (Just remember to buy a Myki card before you ride or choose the free City Circle tram.) Better yet, there’s also the Melbourne Visitor Shuttle which travels around inner city Melbourne and costs just $5 for all day (and children under 10 are free).

Don’t forget to BYO tinsel…

12. Be a scientist (or an historian)!

If you’re all turkeyed out, let’s change pace. Only a five-minute tram trip from the city centre, Melbourne Museum is an awesome day out with heaps of great exhibits (and a good café, too). There’s a dedicated area for children, but the natural life and rainforest sections are also must-sees. The museum is surrounded by the Carlton Gardens, so your kids can let off some steam afterwards.

13. The zoo!

What better time to get back to nature than the heat of summer. Don a hat and some sunscreen and get ready for lions and tigers and bears (oh my!). The zoo is a big day out, so be prepared, pack some healthy snacks and get your ‘RAWRRRHH!’ on! Melbourne Zoo is a short ride on the tram from the city (and guaranteed to be heaps of fun).

14. Post-Christmas cricket!

Grab your tickets to the Boxing Day Test and head to Melbourne’s famous MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) as we say goodbye to footy for a few months and partake in this civilised game. You can also tour the MCG if you want to go behind the scenes.

15. Lygon Street!

Melbourne’s Little Italy is not just a tourist fave. Locals love the gelato, pizza, early dinner at Tiamo, movies at Nova, a trawl through Readings Books and a sidewalk sip at brand new bar, Heart Attack and Vine. It’s all extra festive in December, with decorations festooning the street. Fun for the whole family, really!

16. Sights and sounds!

ACMI (the Australian Centre For The Moving Image) is in the heart of the city at Federation Square. There’s always fantastic exhibits on display, but the families I know particularly love the Kids’ Flicks movie screenings. Not only are tickets cheap, the films are always super-great.

Fitzroy Garden’s Sunset Series is a fantastic series of concerts that happen through January, so if you’re here for a longer visit you must go to one of these great events (we do every, single year!). Fitzroy Gardens is a 10 minute walk or 2 minute tram ride from town. Federation Square also offers heaps of free entertainment just across the road from Flinders Street Station.

The Australian Youth Choir will sing at a special blessing of the Nativity in the City Square. Be there at 10.30am on Wednesday 3rd of December to sneak a peek.

17. Brekky!

Melbourne has the best cafes, let’s face it! Also, most of the big hotels offer great buffet breakfasts (yum!). My family’s favourite is Crown’s Conservatory Restaurant. It’s definitely not a budget buffet brekky, but this is the time to splash out and the view of the Yarra is such a lovely backdrop. The Conservatory breakfast includes everything from dumplings to a chocolate fountain (and everything in-between!)

18. Secret laneways!

Melbourne’s middle name is ‘laneway’ and rightly so. We’re super keen to make the most of inner-city space and shops spill into alleyways and dead-end lanes. Get off the beaten track, find some hidden gems and join the locals where they latte. (Don’t forget to look for the laneways’ special Twelve Days Of Christmas decorations over the festive season.)

19. Scary-great vistas!

Eureka Skydeck is the perfect destination for dare-devil sightseers. Teeter high above the city, fight your vertigo and then head for a bracing drink somewhere less precarious! You’re worth it!

If you’re into big, cool things, there’ll be festive themed projections on the Melbourne Town Hall over Christmas too.

20. Docklands delights

There’s lots happening down at the Docklands, too, and it’s a great spot to go for a bit of a wander, especially in December.

The Christmas Spectacular at Wonderland Spiegeltent runs from 15th November to 24th December and includes acrobatic elves and guaranteed snow falls. Really!

There’s also a new Christmas event in 2014, Jubilation, a festival supporting the Country Fire Authority. It runs from the 12th to 14th December and is free. How good is that?

This is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Melbourne’s must-dos. I probably could have written a post titled ’87 reasons families need to visit Melbourne this Christmas’! I’ve lived here for more than 25 years and this city really is my home. I can’t speak highly enough of it’s charms and delicious delights.

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